Hello, sorry if I'm in the wrong sub forum but I have a question for those with similar experience. I gained my permanent stay in Canada as a refugee and just recently obtained my Canadian Passport, after a very long process. I travelled recently to US and when I comeback to Canadian airport, I always pulled aside and must go through a secondary check at CBSA. Other Canadian passport holders can just exit to claim their baggage. I asked the officer what's wrong and they said it's fine, just normal routine and handed me back my passport. Anyone else experience the same situation? I never get into trouble or anything, I went through the same process from refugee to PR to citizenship. I'm so confused because I get pulled over twice at the airport to get interrogated by the CBSA, even for a brief moment.
Refugee with Canadian Passport Holders
- Thread starter pinkgiraffe
- Start date
It's really impossible for any of us to say. There can be any number of reasons why CBSA pulls someone over. Sometimes this is entirely random. Sometimes it's for a reason. I have a friend who was born in Canada but still gets pulled over regularly because his name is a close match to someone who is on some sort of list.
What have they asked you exactly? You use the word interrogation so it sounds like they were asking you a lot of questions or challenging you on something? Is that right?
Yeah, sorry I probably exaggerated a bit because I'm a bit confused and angry if I'm the only one experiencing this. But they asked me questions like when I landed here, with what permit/visa, when I was granted refugee, when I obtained my PR and citizenship. I mean, if I have the passport now it should be the end of the line. There's nothing more to it, right? But twice they pulled me aside and I was the only one with a passport meanwhile people lining up at CBSA only have temp permit (I asked one guy and he told me he had issues with his working permit).
for whatever reason you are flagged (or you are similar to somebody flagged). Can it happen to Canadian citizen? Yes. Can you do anything about it? Not really. Just take it as additional routine for yourself. Some flags may go away over the time, some will last. Nothing you can really do about it (especially if you just resemble to somebody else).
Thanks for the info although I find it peculiar as the officer did not want to tell me anything regarding my own file.